Lionel Hampton spanned a century of jazz. Born in 1908 and active until his death in 2002, he not only participated in every era of jazz – swing, dance halls, bebop – but also elevated the vibraphone to prominence and wrote some of jazz's most essential chapters. He recorded the first vibraphone solo in jazz history with Louis Armstrong in the early 1930s, then joined Benny Goodman's trio with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa. He simultaneously recorded in small groups with Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams, Harry James, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, among others, before forming his own band in 1940, making it one of the most famous jazz ensembles of the era. A showman, vibraphonist, drummer, and pianist, he embodied jazz for seven decades. It was during his most creative and original period that he recorded the eleven tracks compiled here in September 1953, April 1954, and September 1954, with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich. The combination of high-octane swing and the lyricism of an unparalleled leader makes this album a must-have in jazz history.
Amazon
eBay
Rare Vinyl
